Mike Ashley and Rangers will face charges of failing “the best interests of football” next month
The Scottish FA have set a date of March 2 for the hearing into charges against Mike Ashley and Rangers.
Ashley will face two charges relating to his possible breach of the Scottish FA’s dual club ownership rules. The Sports Direct founder owns Newcastle United and also has an 8.96 per cent stake in Rangers.
Rangers’ hearing will see the club faced with three charges – the third of which concerns its relationship with the Scottish FA – and will take place a fortnight later on 16 March.
Both parties are alleged to have failed to have acted “in the best interests of football”.
Ashley’s influence at the club has grown in recent weeks, after he gave the cash-strapped club a £10m loan with security on the club’s registered trademarks and Murray Park training ground in return. The businessman was prevented from tripling his stake in the club by the Scottish FA in December.
Both Rangers and Ashley have been accused of breaching the Scottish FA’s disciplinary rule 19 which states that no one “directly or indirectly” involved with a club “in any capacity” can:
- be a member of another club.
- be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management or administration of another club.
- have any power whatsoever to influence the management or administration of another club.